Augustin i



(No Model.) 4

8 A. I. AMBLER; APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION O]? GAS OR YAPOR PROM' PETROLEUM.

Patented Oct. 4,1881.

N4 PETERS. Fhulo-umo m ur. Wnshingmu. n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' AUGUSTIN I. AMBLER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE INTERNATIONAL VAPOR FUEL CARBON IRON AND MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GAS R VAPOR FRO M PETROLEUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,982, dated October 4, 1881,

' Application filed August 2,1880. .(No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUGUSTIN I. AMBLEma} useful Machine or Apparatus for the Produc-' tion of Gas or Vapor from Petroleum audits Products, and also for producing, when petroleum is the substance acted upon, by the same apparatus and at the same time, lubricatingoil as a resultant of said petroleum and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ap- 2o paratus for generating gas or vapor from petroleum, and mingling therewith superheated steam for the purpose of producing an inflam mable hydrocarbon gas suitable for use in producing flame and heat for heating furnaces of 2 various kinds, and for producing at the same time and by the same operation lubricatingoil; and the-mbjects of my improvements are,

first, to provide an apparatus which, when in operation, shall, by the agency of steam, pro- 0 duce a continuous supply of gas or hydrocan bon vapor suitable for use in generating heat to be applied to furnaces for smelting iron, and for heating furnaces for iron and steel during the different stages of their manufacture, and; 3 5 for generating steam, and generally for appli cation to furnaces in which a controlled de-j gree of heat is required; second, to provide a suitable'device for receiving and containing the oil while under treatment, and for bring 0 ing steam int-o actual contact with the oil while in the apparatus; third, to provide means for drawing off the residuum after it hasreached a certain specific gravity, to be used as a Inbricating material; fourth, to provide means 5 for ascertaining when the lubricating-oil is to be drawn off; fifth, to provide a burner to be used in combination with the gas or vapor generator, and the means of conducting the gas from the generator to the burner, and for regulating its flow sixth, to provide means for conducting steam to the apparatus, and for superheating it therein; and, seventh, to provide the necessary combinations of parts for controlling the operation thereof and insuring themode of operation herein described. I atrain these objects by the mechanism or apparatus illustrated in the accompanying'drawings, in which Figure l is an-elevation, partly in section, of my improved apparatus, showing the brick- ,work in which it is inclos'ed, the gas or vapor generator, the superheating-pipes, the burner and furnace, the pyrometers for indicating the temperature of the material in the difi'erent parts of the apparatus, the steam and vapor gages, and the steam and oil pipes; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one of the heating or vaporizing chambers.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in both views.

In constructing devices of the type herein described, and for attaining the objects above enumerated, I employ two cylinders orvessels of the form shown, or of any other that will admit of one of them being placed within the other in such a manner as to leave the requisite space between them. In the present case the cylindrical portions are each provided with rounded or dome-shaped ends, one of which is in each case cast upon the cylindrical portion,

while the oppositeones are secured by means of vflan ges and bolts, the object being the ready removal and replacementot' the removable ends when access to the interior of the cylinders is desirable. The outer one of these cylinders is designated by theletter A, it being shown as having its upper end or dome secured to its lower portion by a series of bolts which pass through flanges and are supplied with nutsfor holding the parts in close contact.- Upon the 0 made to protect the small pipes c and b, the former of which is used for drawing off the oil at certain stages of the operation and the latter for conveying steam to the interior cylinder or vessel, B, which, as shown, is of less dimensions than theouterone butotherwiselike it, except that it has upon its inner surface, at

its lower end, a projection into which there is screwed or otherwise secured a pipe, B, which extends upward into the dome part thereof and terminates in a sphere which is provided with a series of small pipes for the escape of the gas or vapor therefrom, one end of such pipes being provided with rose-heads to prevent the passage of oil.

Between the point where pipe B enters the lower portion of vessel B and the sphere upon its upper end there are fitted to and supported byitaseriesof steam chambers or diaphragms, B containing such chambers, their construction being shown inFigs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, where it will be seen that they may be formed of two disks of metal bolted together around their outer edges, or that they may be cast in one piece and cored out so as to form the requisite chambers for the steam, and that in the former case they are provided upon their inner surfaces with projections which, when put together, form a body through which holes B are bored or formed for the purpose of allowing the gas or vapor to ascend from the lower to the upper portions of the vessel B, while at the same time they allow oil to pass down through them from the upper to the lower portion of said vessel. Screw-bolts may be used instead of the projections, they being made hollow, so as to perform the same function.

1t will be observed that the upper one of the diaphragms, B, has no holes for the passage of the oil and vapors or gas. It is, however, provided with a series of apertures inits lower plate, through which the vapors pass into its interior, their escape therefrom being through apertures in its center portion, through which the gas passesinto pipe B and the sphere on its upper end to the chamber above. These diaphragms are fitted tightly to or upon the tube B,it being perforated at the points where such diaphragms cover it, so as to allow the steam which enters the lower end of said tube to pass into eaehof the chambers, except the upper one, and thus aid in vaporizing the oil without mingling with the vapors thereo t. The office of the sphere upon the upper end of pipe B is to receive the gas or vapor and distribute it into the chamber in vessel B, said sphere being provided upon its upper surface with a series of pipes having upon one or both of their ends rose-heads tor the passageot'such gas or vapor into said chamber. The steam, entering the tube Bat its lower end, will have a tendency to carry up with it some of the oil which collects in the lower portion of the vessel; but any such oil will be prevented from passing into the sphere or the chamberin which upon the upper orlowerportionot' pipe B and a coil or coils of pipe below or between them. I prefer, however, to use the chambered diaphragms as more convenientand as being more readily removable when occasion requires.

In an apparatus of this character it is important that the steam used for gasit'ying or vaporizing the oil should be superheated, as when such is the case the apparatus may be of less dimensions than is required when steam at the ordinary temperature is used, and a. greater proportion of the oil used can be vaporized, and hence greater economy will result from the use of this device.

For the purpose of conducting the steam to the superheating portion of the apparatus there is provided a pipe, A, which is to be connected with any suitable form of generater located in any desired position,from which steam is conducted through said pipe, which is branched,a-s shown,so that a portion of the steam passing it may be directed through valve 1 into the interior of vessel B, below the upper diaphragm, B and another portion through valve J into the superheating-coil A, located in achamber outside of vessel A,the valves referred to being made to control the amount passing in either direction.

It will be observed that as a consequence of this arrangement saturated steam alone, or steam superheated, or the two combined, may be used. It will, however, be found desirable, generally, to use only the superheated, except upon first starting the device, when saturated steam may be used for heating the apparatus.

The method of superheating the steam is as follows: The coil of pipe A is made to surround the outer vessel, A, and is placed in a chamber formed between said vessel and the brick-work or casing Q, which chamber, forms the flue or conduit for the escape of the products of combustion and heated air from the furnace to the uptake or chimney Q. The steam to be superheated enters this coil at its upper end, by preference, it being, as before stated, admitted through valve J in a branch of pipe A and is forced through the coil to near the bottom of the apparatus, where it is taken out through the casing and conducted to the outer or inner cylinders, or to both, at pleasure, the valve L, when open, admitting a portion or all of it to the space between the outer and inner cylinders. It the valve L be closed and L opened, the steam will all pass into the interior of the inner cylinder, B, where it will come in direct contact with the oil therein, and from thence up through the apertures IOU B in thediaphragms B to the chamber in the upper end of vessel B, from where it is taken oft'.for use, as hereinafter described.

The portion of the steam which enters into direct contact with the oil, as above described,;

being the only portion which mingles with the vapor or gas arising from the oil, it follows manipulation of valve L.

valves L and L open to some extent, as it will be desirable to have steam enter the body of the oil and at the same time enter the pipe B to further heat the oil and gas or vapors and to cause them to be thoroughly connningled before being taken otf for use.

The oil to be treated, which may be either of the oil, the regulation of the supply being necessary in either case, as, it too much is admitted the device will become filled with oil and its proper operation obstructed, and it too small a quantity is supplied the requisite amount of gas or vapor will not beobtaiued.

The oil in descending through the vessel B comes incontact with the heated diaphragms B and a large per cent. of it is converted into vapor, while the remainder falls into the lower portion of the vessel, where it is broughtthe remainder is, by the operation of the apparatus, as described, converted into an .oil of the requisite specific gravity to be used for lubricating machinery and for other purposes, which at the proper stages ofi the operation is drawnoff through pipe E, its flow being controlled by a valve,,N, or it may be, through the pipe, controlled by the valve R.

I make provision for taking ofi. the gas or vapor, for use in the apparatus or for use in heating other furnaces and devices, by inserting in the top of the dome apipe which communicates with the interior of vessel B, as shown, and connecting with it a pipe, C, controlled byavalve, 0, said pipe connecting with the upper part of a coil, 0, whichis placed in the steam chamber or space between the two cylinders, said chamber orspace being supplied with superheated steam passing through the valve L.

To the lower end of coil- 0 thereis attached a pipe, 0 which passes out through the wall thence to a burner, P, located in a furnace below the cylinders, itbeing con trolled by a valve, 0', for the purpose of regulating the flow of gas to said burner. The gas or vapor in passing through the coil 0 is adheated and leaves said coil at nearly the tem perature of the steam that surrounds the same, and is consequently delivered to the burner in the best possible condition for use.

When it is desirable to use the gas or vapor for heating devices other than the apparatus in which it is generated the pipe 0 may be led to such device by forming a branch controlled by a valve, so as to conduct it to the desired location. o

For determining at all times the quantity of the oil unvaporized in the lower portion of vessel B there is attached to the pipe through which the gas or vapor passes from the dome a pipe, E, which is supplied with a valve, K, for'controlling the flow of the gas through said pipe, which extends downward to a chamber, M, which has in it a valve for shutting off the gas or vapor when desired. From this chamber there extends a glass gage-tube, the lower end of which is secured in a chamber attached to and communicating with the pipe a, its passage being controlled by a valve, M, which, when open, allows the oil to tlow into said glass tube, in which it rises to a level with the oil in the apparatus, and as, when the valve in chamber M is open, the pressure upon the upper surface of the-oil in the tube is substantially the same as the pressure below or upon the 'oil in the vessel, the operator can at all times determine when to draw oft the lubricating-oil, which may be done when the apparatus is in operation'by closing the valge in chamber M andopening valves M and N; or it maybe drawn off through valve R, as above described, the proper-time forsueh drawing oft being when all that portion which is vaporizabl'e by the heat applied by the steam has been converted into gas or vapor. v

For the purpose of determining the steampressnre in the chamber or space between the twocylinders or vessels, there is attached thereto and made to communicate therewith a pipe upon" the outer end'ot' which a steam-gage, G, ofany approved form. is attached, which ena- Ind bles the operator at all times to determine the pressurein said chamber.

It is necessary at ti mes to compare the pressure of the gas or vapor with that of the steam, and in orderv that this may be 'done there is connected with the gas-outlet pipe a gage, G,

which indicates the pressure therein. also provide a pyrometer, F, and pla-e it at thetop of thedome, which will at all times show the heat of the gas within. It is also desirable thatprovlsion should bemade for determining the temperature of the steam as it passes from the superheater to the vessel containing the oil to be treated. This is effected by connecting with the pipe leading to said vessel, or to the vessel, a pyrometer, F, as shown in the drawlugs.

In commencing the operation of generating}.

gas or vaporin an apparatus of this type, steam:

from some suitable generator is allowed to flow" into the superheating-coil, which is then beated by some light fuel placed in the furnace and kept burning until the steam is properly heated, when it isadmitted to the chambers within.

the cylinders A and B, and this is continued until a proper degree of heat. as determined by the steantpyrometer is attained; and when the pressure in the steam-gage has reached.

within a few pounds of the pressure of that in, the generator from which it is taken the oil.

may be admitted, and the operation will therethe burner and kept ignited.

I prefer to make the cylinders of cast-iron or cast-steel, and the diaphragms or steam-' chambers of the same material or materials,: thepipes being of wrought-iron, copper, brass,:

or any other suitable material.

The construction and operation of parts shown and described enables me to form a genera tor ofa comparatively small number of parts,

and to so arrange such parts that the few{ joints necessary to unite them are so placed as not to be exposed to high degrees of heat, and= sation of steam in the apparatus may be drawn off through the valve L, as shown in Fig. l.

I have filed two other applications for Letters Patent for improvements in gas-generators, both of which are of even date herewith, and also one for an improved process for the manufacture of gas or vapor from petroleum, the date of filing of the latter being September 7, 1880, in allof which there are shown some of the features which are shown and described in this application. I therefore wish it understood that Ido not claim in this application any of the devices or combinations thereof which are claimed in either ofthe abovereferred-to applications.

Havingthus described my invention, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. 'In an apparatus for generating gas or vapor from petroleum and its products and mingling the same with superheated steam, and thus forming a hydrocarbon vapor capable of being used as a heating agent, the combination of a closed vessel for containing the material to be vaporized, a pipe for introducing superheated steam into the material, a series of chambers or diaphragms'heated by steam for the purpose of adheating the gas or vapor before it leaves the vessel in which it is generated, a pipe for the introduction of a regnlated quantity of steam into the ascending gas, and a chamberfor the reception of the mingled gases, all substantially as described.

2. The combination, in an apparatusfor generatin g gas or vapor from petroleum and its products, of the vessels A and B, the latter arranged within the former, a perforated pipe, D, or pipes for conducting the oil or other substance to the interior of said vessels, the branched pipe or pipes for introducing steam into the interior of vessel B, and into a steamheating coil surrounding the vessel A, the coil A, the steam-pipe b, for conducting the steam from the coil to the interior of the vessels, and theprotecting-pipe A, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the pipe a, protecting-pipe A, and the valve M, the parts being arranged for operation substantially as described, whereby they are made available for drawing off thelubricating-oil when the apparatus is in operation, as described.

4. The combination of thesteam-pipe A, the

steam-heating coil A, placed in 'a chamber formed between the outer vessel, A, and the casing of the apparatus, through which the heated products of combustion pass from the furnace, and in which the steam is superheated, and the regulating-valvesL and L, which control the flow and direction of the superheated steam as it passes from the coil to the interior of the apparatus, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the cylinder 13, the perforated pipe B, and hollow perforated diaphragms, their arrangement being substantially as described, whereby the superheated steam passing into the interior of vessel B in regulated quantities is caused to mingle with the vapor arising from the oil, and the two vapors or gases are properly mingled before being drawn off for use.

6. The combination of the pipe B and a spherical chamber upon its upper end for the purpose of preventing oil from being carried into the gas-chamber of the apparatus, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the dome shaped vessels A and B, the steam-superheating coil A, the gas or vapor adheating coil 0, the perforated pipe B, the diaphragms B and suitable pipes for conducting steam to the apparatus and the gas from it to the point where it is to be burned, substantially as described.

8. The combination of the sphere attached to the upper end of the tube B and the distributing-pipes leading therefrom, such pipes being supplied with rose-heads, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

D. P. HOLLOWAY, GEO. F. GRAHAM.

ICC 

